(Updated 7:55 pm) A Calverton home was completely destroyed by fire late Sunday afternoon.

The two-story frame house on Twomey Avenue, just south of Deep Hole Road, was fully engulfed in flames when Riverhead firefighters arrived on the scene at about 4:30 p.m.

Two residents, a man and his elderly mother, both escaped from the burning structure. They were both transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for evaluation by Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

"We were inside and my son said, 'I smell smoke' so he went outside," the woman said. "He came running back in screaming, 'Get out of the house! Get out!' It all happened so fast," she said.

As fire engines arrived at the blaze, the homeowner, a man who appeared to be in his 40s, was standing on the north side of the burning house screaming for his cats. One cat jumped from the building, he told witnesses. The cat suffered burns and was taken to the emergency veterinary hospital by Linda Grasso, a veterinary technician who happened to be on the scene. The other cat was never found and its fate is unknown. The man's three dogs got out of the house, Grasso said.

Flanders, Wading River and Jamesport fire departments responded to the scene on Riverhead's call for mutual aid. Eastport Fire Department stood by at Riverhead headquarters.

Nearly the entire home was reduced to ashes and burnt timbers by the roaring flames. Riverhead Fire Chief Tony White said blowing winds fanned the flames. There is an open field behind the east-facing rear of the house.

The Riverhead Fire Marshal and the Suffolk County Arson Squad are investigating the cause of the fire, White said.

SORRY IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN ON HERE FOLKS...I JUST HAD A BABY GIRL AND I'VE BEEN A BIT ON THE BUSY SIDE...I JUST WANTED TO GET BACK ON AND SAY THANK YO TO YOU ALL FOR BEING SO WONDERFUL AND CONTINUING TO SUPPORT MY BROTHER AND HIS FAMILY!!!
GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!

NOW REFERRED TO AFFECTIONATELY AS "MIRACLE MURPH" HE WAS HAPPY TO SEE HIS DADDY TODAY...BOTH OF STEVE'S CATS WERE NAMED AFTER HIS FAVORITE BASEBALL PLAYERS DANIEL MURPHY AND DAVID WRIGHT FROM THE METS. EVERY YEAR MY BROTHER AND I ATTEND THE SUBWAY SERIES (I AM A HUGE YANKEE FAN)FOR OUR ANNUAL "SIBLING RIVALRY" WHICH ENDS WITH ONE OF US HAVING TO WEAR THE OTHER'S JERSEY OUT OF THE STADIUM...

My son, Stephen lost everything to a devastating house fire on Sunday . If you know Stephen, you will find that he is a kind and gentle man who worked hard for what he had only to be taken away by this devastation. One of his cats, Murph, was thought to be killed, but he found the kitty, injured but safe at a veterinary hospital. God bless you all for your donations to help Stephen. Thank you.

My son, Stephen lost everything to a devastating house fire on Sunday . If you know Stephen, you will find that he is a kind and gentle man who worked hard for what he had only to be taken away by this devastation. One of his cats, Murph, was thought to be killed, but he found the kitty, injured but safe at a veterinary hospital. God bless you all for your donations to help Stephen. Thank you.

GoFundMe’s fee is 5% per donation, and our payment processor’s fee is 2.9% + $0.30 per donation. GoFundMe will never post without your permission. By continuing, you agree with the GoFundMe terms and privacy policy.